What are the implications of MRD negative status? What is the best method to measure it? And what do the results mean for treatment? Writing in the journal Leukemia, doctors Shaji Kumar and Vincent Rajkumar, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, offer a thoughtful look at the current status of minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment in myeloma. In his blog this week, IMF Chairman Dr. Brian Durie examines the MRD debate through the prism of the IMF's signature Black Swan Research Initiative®READ MORE

Vermont Gets a Head Start on Myeloma Awareness Month

The Vermont town of Bennington has officially declared March "Myeloma Awareness Month." Sculptor and myeloma patient Jan Martin Bopp accepted the proclamation from town officials last Friday on behalf of the International Myeloma Foundation, noting that "Having been a professional educator for all of my professional career, I'm going to continue to educate people about myeloma." READ MORE

Everything You Wanted to Know about "Chemo Brain"

The IMF presents a free teleconference that explores the fascinating subject of "chemo brain" during the organization's "Living Well with Myeloma" series on Thursday, March 13, at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET. "Chemo Brain – Is It Real?" will be led by Pamela Joyce Shapiro, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Temple University, and includes a Q & A. REGISTER HERE

IMF Hosts First Kentucky Advocacy Day

The IMF held its first state advocacy day in Kentucky this week. Patients, caregivers and members of the Kentucky State Patients Equal Access Coalition—a group of health organizations working to pass oral chemotherapy parity legislation—gathered at the state capitol in Frankfort. Kentucky State Senator Tom Buford (R) met with patients in the morning to hear their stories, and by the afternoon Sen. Buford had introduced legislation (SB 148) for consideration by Kentucky lawmakers. Thank you to the patients, caregivers, nurses and pharmacists who shared their stories and experiences to help this legislation take a major step forward! Never been involved in advocacy? Click HERE to take action and share your story today.